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MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS C M H A M E N T A L H E A LT H W E E K M AY 3 - 9 , 2 0 2 1
Mental health ministr addresses increasing demand for supports HILARY KLAS SEN
When Everett Hindley accepted the portfolio of Minister of Mental Health and Addictions for Saskatchewan last November, he knew the role would be complex and demanding. “It’s a big task because it’s an ever-moving target,” says the Swift Current MLA. Matters relating to the psyche are rather more subjective than say, fixing a stretch of highway that needs repaving, no offense to the Ministry of Highways. “The vision is to have more positive outcomes for people, so they are able to access the services they need and the province is able to help them through some challenging times.” A record budget of $458 million, with $23.4 million in new funding in 2021, will help fulfill that vision. In 2021, that means $1 million of the $4.6 million in new mental health funding will go toward the Pillars For Life Suicide Prevention strategy, a year-two initiative. An Integrated Youth Services project is set to channel $2 million into three mental health support sites for youth in Saskatchewan. The program represents a holistic approach, encompassing mental health, addictions, social services, physical health, well-being, peer support and the involvement of family and the community. It is hoped this approach will increase collaboration with existing organizations that are already doing great work, such as community-
Everett Hindley, Sask. minister of Mental Health and Addictions
Walk-in mental health counselling services have been expanded to 23 communities across Saskatchewan, including this clinic in Swift Current. SU PPL IED
based organizations (CBOs), churches, religious groups and national mental health initiatives. “As a minister I am excited about this approach and hopeful it will create significant change for people,” says Hindley. Depending on outcomes, it may serve as a model for other initiatives. A pilot project which pairs nurses with members of the RCMP to support rural mental health in some of the province’s smaller communities is being extended. “RCMP staff sergeants are very excited about that,” says Hindley of the unique partnership. Funding has also been allocated toward Mental Health and Addictions public awareness campaigns this year, which can help end the stigma around accessing mental health services. The ministry seeks to balance the treatment side of their portfolio with the prevention side, addressing both symptoms and their causes. Earlier this year, seven short-term stay mental health beds opened in Saskatoon, tackling more serious needs. On the pre-
vention side, Hindley has spoken with the Ministry of Education about continuing to work on the education front to assist kids in school. “We want to help people at a younger age and hopefully prevent them getting into situations later on in life when they feel they have nowhere else to turn.” The pandemic has posed new challenges in multiple areas. “We’re seeing those pressures on government programs and supports,” says Hindley. Additional funding this year will address the higher demand for mental health services as a result of COVID-19. Services have been impacted and have had to adjust. “They’re not running at full capacity like they used to. Some funding is set aside for that.” The government is funding 23 walk-in clinics in a number of communities. “Walk-in clinics are another example of a service that has worked well for some people,” says Hindley. He recently phoned the walk-in clinic in Swift Current. It was one of the last to come online, open-
ing its doors in November 2020 and only had a couple of months to operate “normally.” They’ve been doing a lot more phone consultations. A SPHERU* study found that access to services from a mental health professional declined by almost 50 per cent compared to before COVID. It also found that the uptake of online/phone support hasn’t materialized as anticipated at 10.4 per cent since COVID versus 9.5 per cent before. The minister says the pandemic has highlighted a number of challenges that will be looked at more closely. On the addictions side, a drug task force will begin conducting consultations when health restrictions are eased. In mid-April the minister took steps toward overdose prevention, directing the Saskatchewan Health Authority to create 13 sites where people can use illicit drugs under medical supervision. It is new terrain for a province that has not publicly funded this type of program before. The province posted a record number of deaths due to overdose in 2020 at 379.
Who to call when you need support: 211 Saskatchewan BY JENNIFER JACOBY-SMITH
The service for 211 has existed in Saskatchewan since 2013 when it launched as a website (sk.211.ca). In 2018, the service went through an expansion to include phone, text, or web chat options. The confidential platform is free for everyone and no matter how users choose to access the service it’s available 24/7. “ The goal behind the service is to help people in Saskatchewan connect to human services,” explains Kristen Nelson, 211 Saskatchewan executive director. “That could include government, social, community, non-clinical health, or nonprofit services across the province. It’s really making that search and that connection to services in a simpler way to navigate.” For example, if someone is looking for income supports, they can access the website where they will find services divided into categories.
Finding services, such as mental health supports, can be challenging. 211 Saskatchewan offers a free platform, users can access through the website (sk.211.ca), phone, text, or web chat options. The service is available 24/7 and has listings across the province. G E T T Y IM AGES
“We have information like hours of operation, eligibility, fees. All of those really important things to determine which service is the best fit for what the person is looking for,” says Nelson. If a person wants extra support in their search, service navigators are available by text, phone, or web chat. As expected the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the volume and types of searches
211 is seeing. In 2020, there was a 94 per cent increase in the number of phone calls, text messages, and emails. The first quarter of 2021 saw an increase of 189 per cent over last year’s numbers. Since the beginning mental health and substance use have always been in the top needs people have searched for. That trend continues during the pandemic, as well, but there were also more people
searching to connect with non-clinic health services and income supports. The service is working to keep listings up-to-date, reflecting changes to services due to COVID. Many service providers have switched to virtual options, which can be tremendously helpful for those in rural Saskatchewan. One of the benefits of 211 is that it is truly available to anyone, no matter their location. Anyone can search for services available in any community. The service navigators can also offer support in over 175 languages, including 17 indigenous languages. 211 Saskatchewan is a service of United Way Regina and United Way Saskatoon and Area, but has listings for every area of the province. “The fact that it’s 24/7 really kind of helps with that accessibility,” says Nelson. “People really have it at their finger tips wherever they are, whether that’s on the phone or online, when it’s most convenient for them.”
A University of Regina internet-delivered Cognitive Behavior Therapy program that the ministry has invested over $4 million into was recently featured in a national podcast. Nearly 10,000 clients have accessed the madein-Saskatchewan program. The ministry portfolio also encompasses services to seniors and residents in rural and remote communities. Hindley has heard concerns over the isolation of seniors because of COVID. “That’s soon going to change as we’ve got the vast majority of residents and staff in long term care facilities vaccinated and very soon, we’ll be able to ease those restrictions.” The ministry is also
working to provide as much help as it can to remote residents. “Everyone needs access to these supports.” The ministry has tuned up their listening devices to stay in touch with real mental health needs. “Engaging with folks across Saskatchewan is critical to continuing to assess and refine the programs we do have in government and finding where we can perhaps do a little better,” Hindley says. “There’s a real opportunity for government ministries to work together, and we can also rely on our community partners. I think that’s the best way to go at this.”
* Saskatchewan Population Health Evaluation and Research Unit
WHO TO CALL Search at sk.211.ca Call 211 Text 211 Live chat at sk.211.ca FIRE/AMBULANCE/POLICE: 9-1-1 PROFESSIONAL HEALTH ADVICE AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT: 8-1-1 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: (24/7) Saskatoon Interval House 1-888-338-0880 Regina Transition House 306-569-2292 (Yorkton) Shelwin House – Domestic Violence Crisis Line 1-888-783-3111 Moose Jaw Transition House 306-693-6511 (North Saskatchewan) Piwapan Women’s Center 306-425-4090 or 306-764-1011 Lloydminster Interval Home 780-875-0966 West Central Crisis and Family Support Centre 306-463-1860 Northeast Crisis Line 1-800-611-6349 Southwest Crisis Services 306-778-3386
THIS SECTION WAS CREATED BY CONTENT WORKS, POSTMEDIA’S COMMERCIAL CONTENT DIVISION.
SUICIDE PREVENTION LINES: Crisis Services Canada – Suicide Prevention and Support 1-833-456-4566 Prince Albert Mobile Crisis Unit 306-764-1011 Regina Mobile Crisis Services Suicide Line 306-525-5333 Saskatoon Mobile Crisis 306-933-6200 GENERAL CRISIS COUNSELLING: Saskatchewan Farm Stress Line 1-800-667-4442 Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline 1-833-900-1010 First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line 1-855-242-3310 Trans Lifeline (support for Transgender people) 1-877-330-6366 Veterans Crisis Help Line 1-800-268-7708
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REGINA LEADER-POST
MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS C M H A M E N T A L H E A LT H W E E K M AY 3 - 9 , 2 0 2 1
Pandemic taking toll on mental health of frontline workers
PAT REDIGER
The pandemic has placed mental stress on all Saskatchewan residents, but that stress is being particularly felt by frontline workers in the health care system. Shawn Toovey, who works as a registered nurse in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon, said the mental stress at times can be overwhelming. “We’ve been doing this for a year. We’re tired and we’re exhausted,” he says. “I’m so proud of my coworkers and we’ve done everything we can. We’re working hard; we’re working overtime; we’re getting through it; and we’ve got each other’s back. We’ve never bonded like this before and so far we’re not falling apart. We’re hanging in there because it’s like a battle zone. We’re getting injured. We got scars. The stress is getting to us, but we’re still fighting on.” Toovey has been a nurse for 25 years and has seen plenty of different experiences during that time, but the pandemic is beginning to take its toll on him and his co-workers. As the number of COVID cases increased, the ICU began pulling people with experience from other departments and contacted retired nurses to help. Nurses are working injured because there is simply not enough staff to manage the overwhelming numbers of patients requiring care. “The problem is we are learning on the fly; nurses have had no choice but to start working in areas that they are not used to working,” says Toovey. “It’s like cooking in someone else’s kitchen. We know how to cook, but you don’t know where anything is. It’s exhausting mentally trying to get through the day.” This impact has been felt throughout the health care system, regardless if nurses are working in the north, in one of the larger city hospitals or in a rural setting. As systems work at capacity
and beyond, nurses are being assigned to cover other areas in the hospital, or work multiple weekends or several consecutive days to ensure patient needs are met. In addition to the workload, nurses are facing other issues that impact their mental health. Nurses are becoming lifelines between their patients and families when the patients must remain in isolation. They facilitate communication, help families cope with the stress, and are often the only people in the room when a patient dies. “ Wo r k d ay s a r e m o r e fearful, and there’s more anxiety. You are expected to do more, and to take on more responsibility. It’s allat-once, all-the-time,” says Toovey. Nurses not only have their patients to care for, but they also have their own families and relationships. Just like other people in the community, they must isolate from others to ensure they don’t spread the virus to loved ones. They must adhere to evolving health regulations, manage children and schooling, look after elderly parents, and they also miss the lifestyle they enjoyed. Saskatchewan nurses are currently offered an Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP) counselling
Shawn Toovey creates art as a way to relieve stress. His latest works of art have incorporated the colourful caps from empty vaccine vials and other discarded medical packaging. Toovey’s artwork can be viewed at Instagram@shawn_2v or FacebookShawn Toovey. SU PPL IED
service for mental health, which operates 24/7. At St Paul’s Hospital, the manager, educator, and ICU educator have created an open door policy so nurses can discuss their situations, and a Mental Health Support line is also offered. “Nurses notoriously take care of others more than themselves so trying to fit in counselling is challenging for us,” says Toovey. “We have been doing this for a year, we are tired and the stress is getting to us. I think moving forward we just need to start talking more openly about our struggles, anxieties and problems to each other more before it is too late.” Although Toovey said existing mental health supports are welcome, these systems are often overwhelmed because there’s not enough workers. The hospital employs social workers to help staff and patients but there’s so much stress and anxiety these days that there is not enough counselling to go around. In fact, the system was already under strain before the pandemic started, and the pressures will continue when the pandemic ends as nurses contend with a backlog of surgeries and procedures that have been delayed. Tracy Zambory, president
of Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN), says a comprehensive mental health strategy must be developed to address these concerns. The process starts with a conversation involving the nurses, employers and the provincial government so the right initiatives can be put in place. A year deep into the pandemic, these issues cannot wait any longer. Nurses are only being compensated for psychological injury if they are actually diagnosed with COVID. This approach does not take into consideration that nurses are amongst COVID-19 every day in their work lives and becoming burnt-out from the workload. “Burn-out does not simply mean I’m tired,” says Zambory. “It means every aspect of your life is affected: workplace, home life, psychological and physical health. I have been getting more and more members contacting me who have increased levels of anxiety, sadness and depression, and feel like they cannot continue on in the profession.” Zambory added that current mental health services are not effective enough for the strain that nurses are currently experiencing. There is not enough one-onone help with someone who
Investing in mental health
will reduce the pressures on our healthcare system, especially our emergency rooms.
makingthedifference.ca/addictions
- NEIL, RPN
Registered nurse Shawn Toovey says the pandemic is taking a toll on frontline health care workers. “We’re hanging in there because it’s like a battle zone. We’re getting injured. We got scars. The stress is getting to us, but we’re still fighting on,” says Toovey, who works in the Intensive Care Unit at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon. SUPPLIED
can provide the right tools to cope with stress, anxiety, and depression. “It is all about us coming together in the community and supporting one another because registered nurses have suffered dramatically
just like many others,” says Zambory. “We have to be willing to talk about mental health and help people when they need it. This year has been unprecedented, and registered nurses need support to get through this.”
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MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS C M H A M E N T A L H E A LT H W E E K M AY 3 - 9 , 2 0 2 1
CMHA BounceBack self-help program proves effective
BY ELIZABETH IRELAND
Whether it is self-medicating with drugs or alcohol, excessive gambling online or experiencing an overall sense of stress and anxiety, the COVID-19 pandemic is having a huge impact on the mental health of Canadians. R e g i n a - b a s e d P hy l l i s O’Connor is executive director of Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Saskatchewan. O’Conner has worked for the non-profit organization for 22 years, including five years in the executive director role. CMHA Saskatchewan has approximately 85 employees located across the province. O’Connor says the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly increased demand for mental health support in the province. “Since spring 2020, we have seen COVID-19 have a significant impact on the mental health of Saskatchewan residents. Everyone is feeling it. For most people this is the biggest crisis of our lifetime, especially because it has gone on so long and the economic damage it has caused. The mental health impacts will last long after the pandemic is over.” CMHA Saskatchewan’s new BounceBack program was launched in November 2020. The introduction of
For most people this is the biggest crisis of our lifetime, especially because it has gone on so long and the economic damage it has caused. The mental health impacts will last long after the pandemic is over. - PHYLLIS O’CONNOR, CMHA Saskatchewan executive director
this program to Saskatchewan residents is thanks to a donation from Bell Let’s Talk (the program already existed in British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario). BounceBack is a free, guid-
FIND
Phyllis O’Connor, executive director, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Saskatchewan SU PPL IED
ed self-help program effective in helping adults and youth 15 and older manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry. Through telephone coaching and a selection of skill-building workbooks, participants can customize their own program. In this way, BounceBack participants learn ways to overcome their symptoms and improve their overall mental wellbeing. Based on cognitive behavioural therapy, BounceBack has been shown to reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms by 50 per cent by the time the program is completed. “This is tried and true cognitive therapy and each participant is paired with a coach for a very personalized experience. We have seen really good pick-up for BounceBack in our province. The demographics of our participants are pretty wide because the pandemic is affecting everybody. If you have a phone and a computer with Internet access you can reach out for that help,” says O’Connor. To ensure accessibility, BounceBack participants can be referred by a family doctor or choose to self-refer (as long as the participant is still connected to a primary care provider). Potential participants go through a screening process. O’Connor notes that a BounceBack for Youth program will ramp up this spring for young people in Saskatchewan ages 13 to 18. In addition to the BounceBack program, CMHA Saskatchewan offers several
JoyIN THE
Moment
creativeoptionsregina.ca
Developed by the Canadian Mental Health Association, BounceBack is a free, guided selfhelp program effective in helping adults and youth 15 and older manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry. GET TY
other programs and services. “As an organization, we are focused on mental health prevention and support. The majority of what we do is upstream in terms of before and after care. CMHA is not a crisis service,” says O’Connor. Based on a peer support model, since mid-April 2020 CMHA Saskatchewan and its branches have run a province-wide Wellness Support Line. These phone lines help connect CMHA staff to community members and play a role in maintaining service and support throughout the pandemic. There are specific phone numbers for 10 different regions (including a phone line for just youth callers). In terms of existing programs that are particularly relevant in 2021, Operational
Stress Injuries (OSI-Can) contributes to the continuous well-being and recovery processes of veterans, first responders and front-line workers across Canada. This group of professionals has been under a huge amount of strain, and shown tremendous resilience on a daily basis, since the start of the pandemic. Caregiver Affected Recovery Education (C.A.R.E.) is designed to offer support and education to anyone who provides care and assistance to vulnerable individuals. The program strives to help caregivers focus on their own self-care. With the isolation that many caregivers are experiencing during this difficult time, C.A.R.E. has seen high demand during COVID-19. Anecdotally, there has also
been an increase in online gambling over the past year. CMHA Saskatchewan offers a free Gambling Awareness Program (GAP) to support responsible gaming behaviours. GAP educates communities and groups about the risks associated with traditional gambling and its online cousins. “I think there has been an increase in online gambling, partly as an anxiety release and partly out of boredom. This is problematic because so many people are already financially strapped,” says O’Connor. To find out more about CMHA Saskatchewan programs, or to donate to the organization, phone 1-800461-5483 or 306-525-5601 in Regina, email: contactus@ cmhask.com or visit the website: sk.cmha.ca.
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MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS C M H A M E N T A L H E A LT H W E E K M AY 3 - 9 , 2 0 2 1
New short-stay mental health unit opens at Royal University Hospital JENNY GABRUCH
A new short-stay mental health unit in Saskatoon is boosting access and support for people in need of urgent care. The seven-bed unit at Royal University Hospital is for adult patients requiring a short stay in hospital for a variety of reasons, such as adjusting medications or dealing with a short-term crisis. Stays can be up to seven days. “We’ve really worked hard over the last few years on improving our services and being more responsive to people that need mental health support,” says Karyn Kawula, director of Inpatient, Mental Health, Addiction Services at the Saskatchewan Health Authority in Saskatoon. She says short-stay patients receive more focused care at the unit, enabling them to transition back to the community more quickly. The unit serves as a complement to the longer-term mental health facility at the Leslie and Irene Dubé Centre for Mental Health. “It’s a smaller unit, and the patient-staff ratio is such that they can spend more time with you and provide more intensive treatment so that your needs are met,” says Kawula. “By separating that population into a smaller unit, you have the time and attention of the care team, and therefore be able to focus more fully on immediate needs and transitioning in a
short time frame back home again.” The unit is staffed aroundthe-clock by two nurses, with two continuing care aids covering 16 hours each day along with security services. A psychiatrist is on-site five days a week, with evenings and weekends filled by an on-call psychiatrist. The team has access to addictions support, recreational therapy and social workers, who help determine what supports patients may need once leaving the facility. “Because they are there for a short time, it takes place more quickly in terms of coordinating care in the community, whether they need counselling, addiction services or a day hospital program,” she says. “Those supports are set up before the person leaves the hospital.” ADDRESSING NEEDS
Kawula says the unit is a big step in addressing the pressures and wait times for those in need of urgent intervention and care. “It provides better access to acute care, primarily by providing more beds, but also by directing the care to the appropriate space,” she says. She notes while mental health is still somewhat of a taboo subject, people are becoming more open about talking about it and, with that, comes the need for additional support. “I do believe there is a
stigma associated with experiencing a mental illness, but because people are more open, they may be more willing to seek services than they were previously.” She says the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic—with all the changes and challenges it brought to many—has shed light on mental health issues. “The pandemic has certainly brought more dialogue about mental health and the mental health challenges associated with it.” PE R M A N E N T S PAC E
The unit opened midFebruary 2021 and is built in space left vacant after the relocation of the RUH adult emergency department. The hospital has had a temporary mental health assessment unit since 2018, installed while construction was underway on the new emergency department. When the new ER opened, the assessment area was designated as a “mental health flex space.” Patients who received care in that space are now cared for in the new, permanent short-stay unit. Funding for the $1.1 million capital renovation costs came from the Government of Saskatchewan, with the province providing a further $1.55 million in annual operating costs. The Royal University Hospital Foundation, along with the Dubé family, has been a major donor in support of mental health care at RUH, including the temporary assessment unit.
Construction of the permanent space began in August 2020 after being delayed slightly in March due
to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re really pleased with how the unit turned out,”
says Kawula. “It’s a beautiful space and conducive to mental health treatment and recovery.”
Our Programs and Services Our one-hour stigma busting Partnership presentations feature: - Stories of recovery from people living with mental illness - Up to date facts and resources - A live Q&A with presenters afterwards
We also have programs like Your Recovery Journey with WRAP and Family Recovery Journey and these feature: - Up to date information on different mental illnesses - Useful strategies for practicing self-care and wellness tools - Learn how to advocate for yourself and loved ones
To find out more contact us Toll free at 1-877-584-2620, email us at info@schizophrenia.sk.ca, or visit our website at www.schizophrenia.sk.ca. We would also like to extend a big thank you to The City of Regina and Cameco Step-up for Mental Health, thank you for helping us share our hope with others.
MENTAL WELLNESS AND ADDICTIONS PROGRAM At the University of Regina mental wellness matters.
Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN–S) is offering Métis in Saskatchewan, access to Métis-specific and culturally safe mental wellness and addiction supports for adults, youth and families. A toll-free help line for help navigating mental wellness and addiction supports is available at 1-855-671-5638 from 8AM-4PM, Monday-Friday. The wide range of support available in both English and French:
That’s why we have supported our campus community by: Conducting over 3,000 e-counseling sessions with students since the beginning of the pandemic. Creating an online Mental Wellness Hub - a one-stop digital resource for mental health supports. Partnering with other post-secondary institutions through Healthy Campus Saskatchewan.
• Case Coordination
• Family Therapy
• Mental wellness and/or Addictions assessment
• Digital Dependency, Gaming and Gambling
• Individual counselling for crisis, trauma, stress, anxiety, depression, addictions and anger
• Legal consultation • Financial counselling
24 HR CRISIS SITUATIONS LINE
1-877-767-7572
Where available, the support will be provided in-person.
As we begin planning for a safe transition back to campus this fall, we will continue to prioritize the mental health and well-being of our campus community. To learn more, visit www.uregina.ca/mental-wellness
Other options include video conference or telephone communication. MN–S is committed to making sure all citizens receive the supports they need in all areas of good mental wellness.
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MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS C M H A M E N T A L H E A LT H W E E K M AY 3 - 9 , 2 0 2 1
Have pandemic stressors damaged your relationships? HILARY KLAS SEN
Couple and familial relationships have faced unprecedented stressors for over a year now, due to life in a pandemic. According to SPHERU*, 20 per cent of Saskatchewan residents are experiencing a ‘high’ level of anxiety since COVID-19 hit, an increase of 163 per cent. One in seven are experiencing a ‘high’ level of depression, a 104 per cent increase. Saskatoon mental health professionals Ed Risling and Barb Morrison are seeing the impact among their clients. In addition to increases in depression, stress and anxiety, increases in domestic violence have been documented. “I’ve got two clients right now where teenage sons have started to act out violently, primarily against the mother,” says Risling, a registered clinical social worker with Prairie Therapists and Trainers. Both these instances involve a single parent. One of Risling’s recent referrals is a mother of a 12-yearold who is “really acting out.” Prior to COVID, when this boy was able to get out with his friends and socialize, he was a good kid and there were no issues. Morrison, a registered social worker in private practice, observed that initially, couples took a sense of pride in working through the numerous adaptations necessitated by the pandemic. “People were trying to figure things out and come up with creative solutions for their
psychological health and practical solutions among those who have kids.” It was into December 2020 before she began seeing an uptick in depression among her clients. “It was manifested through a lack of motivation and even any interest in continuing with the adaptations. A sense of resilience was waning a bit. Into January and February, it was hitting people pretty hard in terms of more of a low-grade depression that was present, really, every day.” Not surprisingly, some couples like more together time while others do not. For the latter, Morrison suggests strategizing around how to differentiate; to build in connection but also autonomy. “Spend time by yourself, get outdoors or go to the grocery store by yourself.” Take time in a room alone, doing a craft, reading, or catching a show on your own. Some families uncovered a fault line around COVID protocols. Risling observed this dynamic between estranged parents. “Deniers are sometimes married to non-deniers.” He has seen a slight increase in cases where the dad makes threats if the mom doesn’t let him see the kids. Sometimes these cases reach the legal system. On occasion, Risling has offered an opinion that the client can take into the legal system. He’s offered two opinions over the last year. Neither has gone to court yet. “Whether they do or not will depend on
how dad responds to mom’s boundaries.” In one case, the client offered the opinion to the other lawyer who was made aware of the ramifications if he/she goes to court. In non-pandemic times Morrison, Risling and his wife Glenda (also a psychotherapist) teach couples two key skills: one is how to handle confrontation including self-confrontation, and the other is how to calm your own body, how to selfsoothe. In lockdown, it’s more difficult to self-soothe. “We can help the person deal with the experience of fear in their body and in their nervous system and help them ground and settle in this world just the way it is,” Risling says, even while acknowledging it’s not fair. Other ways to self-soothe could include taking a break from each other to go for a long walk or taking yourself out to a movie. Limiting confrontative conversations to five minutes is also advisable. If you’re watching a movie together, make it a comedy. A crisis can become a “growing up” opportunity. Glenda notes that developmental gaps will manifest in a couple’s relationship. The opportunity is there to grow in understanding of what is a healthy expression of wants and needs. Risling encourages couples to do a “resource assessment.” This involves identifying and building on the glue that keeps your relationship strong, such as your brand
of love, humour or other strengths. He also encourages couples to do repair when necessary. “We will offend each other, we will cause pain and if we have a mechanism in place for how we repair, we can trust that.” This is something he and Morrison discuss in the relation-
ship book they co-authored, Fully Half Committed. We may expect that after COVID there will be collective rejoicing. We may also expect there could be some anxiety around re-entry into social and work dynamics. “If there’s any collateral damage from people being
together and all the stress around COVID, that will come post-COVID,” Morrison says. The best hope is that relationships will rebound once the stressors are gone.
*Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit’s January 2021 report
University of Regina continues to grow its mental health and wellbeing supports for students Mental wellness plays a significant role in the overall wellbeing of students, faculty, and staff at the University of Regina. The past year has been especially challenging, with the COVID-19 pandemic creating massive and sudden changes in how we learn, how we teach, how we interact with friends and coworkers, and how we manage everyday social interactions. It has been particularly difficult for students. The University of Regina recognized that and responded quickly, creating new mental wellness initiatives and programs. The University recently joined Healthy Campus Saskatchewan, a provincewide initiative that includes 18 other post-secondary institutions and two community organizations. Together, these groups have joined forces to focus on the health and wellbeing of Saskatchewan post-secondary students and provide them with the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to achieve their personal and academic goals. The Government of Saskatchewan also recently announced that it will provide an additional $211,000 in the 2021-22 provincial budget to support the Healthy Campus Saskatchewan partnership. By joining Healthy Campus Saskatchewan, the University of Regina and other post-secondary institutions in the province will share information and resources, build relationships and innovative partnerships to align strategies, and improve collaboration and problem solving between campuses. In February, the University
worked with Healthy Campus Saskatchewan to distribute the Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey to all students with the goal of gaining a better understanding of students’ mental and physical health. The results, which will be available later this summer, will enable the University to enhance mental wellness programming based on the needs identified. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Counselling Services at the University of Regina has continued to offer student counselling via virtual one-on-one sessions. Since the beginning of the pandemic, they have facilitated more than 3,000 e-counselling sessions. “While I was at first reluctant to try remote counselling, I have had many positive results from the sessions I have attended,” said one of the University of Regina’s student athletes. The student, who asked to not be identified, said that by offering the service throughout the pandemic, the University is providing a real and necessary service to students. “Mental illness is a battle many people, including myself, fight every day and it can come with a variety of symptoms that are both mental and physical. Receiving help for mental health challenges is crucial for recovery.” The University of Regina has committed to creating a healthy campus community and learning environment in its 2020-25 strategic plan All Our Relations, or Kahkiyaw kiwâhkomâkâninawak in Cree. Well-being and Belong-
ing is one of the five areas of focus in the strategic plan, and includes objectives related to strengthening the University’s commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Healthy Living, and Mental Health Literacy and Research. The University’s Mental Health Advisory Committee has also created a Mental Health Strategy with its own areas of focus, objectives, and timelines. This strategy is a driver for many different mental wellness initiatives and programs throughout the campus community. “We recognize the importance of being proactive when it comes to the mental health of our students,” said Rob McCaffrey, Mental Health Advisor for Health, Safety & Wellness at the University of Regina. “We are constantly working to find out what is functioning well for our students, and what improvements we could make to the mental wellness programs and services we offer to our campus. Having an overarching strategy helps to ensure that we can continue to care for the mental wellbeing of our campus community now, and for years to come.” In October 2020, the University launched the Mental Wellness Hub, one of the initiatives in the Mental Health Strategy. The Hub is a one-stop digital resource for mental wellness support that connects students, faculty and staff to a variety of services and supports available to them, including Counselling Services, peer support groups, links to external partners/services, and emergency assistance details.
THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF REGINA FOR AWARENESS PURPOSES.
The University of Regina has joined Healthy Campus Saskatchewan, a province-wide initiative focusing on the health and wellbeing of post-secondary students. SUPPLIED